Wednesday, September 20, 2017

BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 20 (PIA) – The Justice, Peace
and Integrity of Creation-Integrated Development Center, Incorporated (JPIC-IDC
Inc.) discussed the relevant laws on anti-trafficking in persons, with the
media partners coming from the provinces of Agusan del Norte and Agusan del
Sur.

Atty. Howell Rex Mabale, President of the
Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Surigao del Sur Chapter reiterated that
trafficking in persons (TIP) is an illegal act and is considered a violation of
human rights and inimical to human dignity and national development.

“There are three interrelated and interdependent
elements that must be present in a situation to be considered within the
purview of Republic Act 9208, as amended by Republic Act 10364. These elements
are (1) acts, (2) means, and (3) purpose,” bared Mabale.

Mabale explained that acts involves recruitment,
obtaining, hiring, providing, offering, transportation, transfer, maintaining,
harboring, or receipt of persons, with or without the victim’s consent or
knowledge, within or across national borders.

“As to means, it is committed by use of threat, or
of force, or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of
power or position, taking advantage of the vulnerability of the person, or, the
giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person
having control over another person; while the purpose is done for the purpose
of exploitation or the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual
exploitation, involuntary servitude or the removal or sale of organs,” he said.

When asked who can file cases for trafficking in
persons, Atty. Mabale underscored that the following persons may file such
cases: any person, including a law enforcement office, who has personal
knowledge of the commission of the offense; the trafficked person or the
offended party; parents or legal guardians; spouse; siblings; or children.

Mabale also emphasized that cases involving
trafficking in persons should not be dismissed based on the affidavit of
desistance executed by the victims or their parents or legal guardians.
Prosecutors are directed to oppose and manifest objections to motions for
dismissal.

The good lawyer also clarified that trafficking
cases can be filed within 10 years after they are committed. He said that if
trafficking is committed by a syndicate or on a large scale against a child,
cases can be filed within 20 years after the commission of the act. “The
prescriptive period is counted from the day the trafficked person is delivered
or released from the conditions of bondage,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, there are mandatory services available
for trafficked persons under Republic Act 9208 as amended by Republic Act
10364, which include temporary housing and food facilities; psychological
support and counseling; free legal services; medical or psychological services;
livelihood and skills training; educational assistance to a trafficked child; and
24-hour call center for crisis calls and technology-based counseling and
referral system.

“This is to ensure their recovery, rehabilitation
and reintegration into the mainstream society,” underlined Mabale.

During the forum, the participating media suggested
to JPIC-IDC to organize another activity wherein other government agencies
directly involved in the implementation of the law could also join and impart
their respective programs and accomplishments, as well as create a unified
system, where they could apply in the actual rescue operations of the
trafficked persons in the region. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

186 surfers compete in 19th Siargao National
Surfing Cup

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Sept. 20 (PIA) – A
total of 186 surfers from the different regions of the country signed up to
compete for the 19th National Surfing Cup that formally opened on Sept. 16,
2017 in Cloud 9, General Luna, Siargao Island.

This year’s Siargao National Surfing Cup is the
first leg of the Philippine Surfing Championship Tour (PSCT) and 1500 (Grade 2)
sanctioned event that will run until Sept. 21, 2017.

According to PSCT President Luke Landrigan, this
tour also includes the upcoming 2nd leg in Lanuza, Surigao del Sur, which is
scheduled on Nov. 5-11, 2017; 3rd in Baler, Aurora on Nov. 29-Dec. 3, 2017; and
the 4th leg will be in San Juan, La Union on Dec. 5-9, 2017.

“The Philippine Surfing Championship Tour (PSCT) is
the country’s first-ever and only professional surfing tournament. Patterned
after the Word Surf League, surfers from all over the Philippines will tour
around different surf spots to battle for the top spot in the national
rankings,” said Landrigan.

Landrigan added, PSCT’s vision is to be the venue
for professional surfing in the Philippines that follows the International
Surfing Association (ISA) standards of competition, preparing Filipino athletes
for the international stage while promoting camaraderie and unity of the
surfing community. (SDR/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

Prior to the validation was a meeting at the
Municipal Hall Conference Room with the Cluster Project Operations Team (CPOT),
Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer (MARPO) Engr. Ulpiano Ohiman Jr.
together with the Local Government officials, the Municipal Planning and
Development Officer Porferio Salubre Jr. and his team, Municipal Agriculturist
Norma Dela Cruz, Engr. Deolita Abadillo and the BOD members of SASEPCO, Marilou
Gabotero, Teresita Perez and Mary Jane Ytac.

“We already allocated a budget amounting to P7.2-M
as our counterpart for this project,” Salubre said as the LGU’s commitment on
cost-sharing. The said amount was purposely intended for the proposed Farm-to-Market
Road, which will directly benefit the farmers and reduce their hauling costs
thereby uplifting the farmers’ well-being and reduce poverty incidence of the
Municipality.

Also part of the LGU’s commitment to support the
implementation of the project is to formulate the Detailed Engineering Design
(DED) and Program of Works (POW) which has a scheduled workshop on October
9-13, 2017.

Engr. Hanginan expressed her thanks for the
assurance of the Local Government unit in helping them realize the project. “I
am very thankful for your willingness to share the said amount even though the
proposed Farm-To-Market Road has yet to be validated,” she said.

The warehouse has an estimated cost of P4 million
that will house the multi-pass rice mill and re-circulating batch mechanical
dryer.

SASEPCO was very grateful for the construction of
new warehouse and the realization of other value chain equipment. “Thank you to
DAR and for this project, for giving us this opportunity with the support of
the Local Government Unit of Trento,” said BOD member Marilou Gabotero.

“Who knows, we will become successful rice
entrepreneurs someday, which will make us compete in the global market,” she
added. (Provincial Project M&E/KM Support Staff- Project
ConVERGE/DAR-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)